ASK DR. SCHELLING

Dear Dr. Schelling,

That kneading motion that my cat Furby does when she’s super-relaxed and I’m petting her – it’s such a unique and fascinating behavior. So I “knead” to know why cats do this.

Kneading is “roughly” feline-speak for “Mommy, I love you.” (If you’re a human with whom your cat has a warm, trusting relationship, when your cat is kneading you, you’re “Mommy” whether you’re male or female.) This article explains kneading in more detail, and also has some tips so you can enjoy these bonding moments without being ever-so-tenderly shredded by your affectionate kitty’s extended claws.

Sometimes this means they give each other presents. The newly-arrived box probably contains candy, most likely chocolates.

Trust me, your humans have your best interests in mind by not sharing any with you. Candy and chocolate can be very dangerous for us non-humans. Let me quote from my feline veterinarian friend, Dr. Snowball (who already has the white coat . . . ):

"The high fat content in many confections and desserts can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and even result in a potentially lethal medical condition called pancreatitis. Too much sugar can also cause stomach upsets. Even sugar-free candy can produce serious problems: The ingredient xylitol can lead to a life-threatening drop in blood sugar, and theoretically liver failure as well."

The biggie is chocolate, though. Humans savor it, but it's toxic to cats. Here's more information, written by a knowledgeable veterinarian, on why chocolate must never be fed to cats (or dogs or other animals).

As an alternative, why not make a play for a heart-shaped serving of catnip, or a toy infused with sweet honeysuckle? Or a big lovey session with you and your humans—that might be the best present of all.